This it normal behaviour: Because of the long release the VCA is still open while the VCO follows the pitch change of the next step.

But I agree that it would be awesome to disable pitch changes for “rest steps”, so that CV A would only change on steps with nonzero Duration. This way it would be possible to start a Pattern with “muted” steps without caring about their CV A values. Would it be possible to add an option for this behaviour?
Or even more flexible: an option for each individual step? (For instance: a negative Duration value = no CV A change.)

Varigate 8 has got an option for this. From the V8 manual: “CV LINK MODE: You can tie a CV channel to a corresponding gate channel. In this mode the CV channel is only progressed when a gate on the linked channel is active”. Would be awesome to be able to do this on the Er-101.

I really found the need for a better solution, when I created a pattern with 16-64 steps, where the cv values are being randomised, and only a few notes fires in the pattern, but different places in the pattern in each cycle. I would hear the random notes change as the cv-changes randomly, also the places where gates are not being fired.

That makes sense. I’ll put it on the list. If I can’t find a non-disruptive place in the UI then it will end up in the CONFIG.INI.

FYI, since I prefer to spend time on things that differentiate me from others (see name of business), it is actually very demotivating to mention that the same option is available in another product. On the flip side, hearing war stories about how this or that affects your craft is highly motivating.

Not sure I have a preference - other that I heard from other OD users, that OD firmware updates are done often. For such a precise sequencer this function is vital IMO and would make this awesome sequencer even better.

I agree with you this new feature would be awesome on a next upgrade firmware but I think Brian is fully focus on the ER301 at the moment and it would take times for him to properly rework on the 101.
However I hope he will get back on the 101 firmware later !